(Thursday, July 26, 2012) You may have thought those old red-and-white Ontario health cards would
last forever - after all, there's no expiry date on them, and you don't have to get a new photo-equipped one unless
the province sends you a notice in the mail.

But now the Ministry of Health says it will suspend health coverage for those who haven't used
their red and white cards for seven years, or replaced it with a new one.

Officials say they'll send out three notices before dropping the axe. More than 3.5 million Ontarians
still have the old cards. Read more...

Guy Louis-XVI, the founder of make-up effects company FuseFX, died July 25 in Ottawa. He was 57; the cause was
esophageal and stomach cancer.

Louis-XVI was born in 1954 and grew up in Rockland, Ontario. He studied make-up at the Versailles
Academy of Make-up Arts in Ottawa as well as teaching himself techniques. A former sign painter and auto-body shop
owner, he started a make-up effects company in the early ’80s called Louis-XVI SFX, which specialized in foam-latex
appliances, props and make-up for the film and television industry. The company gradually expanded to include plaster/resin
composite sculptures, lifecastings
and mannequins for museums and private collectors. Louis-XVI’s silicone sculptures became
known throughout the museum industry and among private collectors. Louis-XVI was also a longtime exhibitor at the
International Make-Up Artist Trade Show. Read more...

Update:(Embrun)
Robbed food bank buoyed by community support.After the devastating robbery of a local food bank, the people of Russell County and beyond
have made Christmas come early. Read more...

A “large amount of food” was stolen from the Good Neighbours Food Bank in Embrun after a vehicle smashed into
the building’s rear doors.

The Ontario Provincial Police in Russell Country investigation indicates that between 10:00pm on July 23 and 8:45am
on July 24, 2012, an unknown vehicle smashed the rear doors to gain entry. The unknown suspect(s) fled with
a large amount of food.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Russell County OPP at 613-443-4499 or Crimestoppers
at 1-800-222-8477. Read more...

Drought prompts well water testing recommendation

(Monday, July 23, 2012) Well owners should get their water tested as drought conditions continue. E. coli
and salmonella can thrive in warm, shallow water. In times of drought, that means wells run a greater risk of contamination.

Having well water tested is free. Well owners only need to pick up a special bottle from the
Eastern Ontario Health Unit and keep the water refrigerated.

The same service is available in Eastern Ontario, according to the Eastern Ontario Health Unit.
Caroline Kuate said the region, largely rural, boasts a lot of well systems. She said people in the area should
get their water tested frequently.

"The only way to know that your water is safe is by testing it," she said. "There's
no way you can just look and smell and determine the safety of the water."

Kuate said there's also no limit to the number of water samples residents can submit.

Small fire behind Rockland Variety
Why were 11 vehicles required for such a small fire?by Patrick Meikle

Last week a small fire broke out behind the Rockland Variety Store. When the Clarence-Rockland
Fire Department responded, they requested the aid of units from Clarence-Creek. Ottawa and Alfred-Plantagenet,
11 in all! Why so many for such a small fire? (Click on the picture to enlarge).

According to Luc Chayer, Deputy Chief for the Rockland fire hall, it was a "small structure
fire" in the backwalls and it was considered to be "accidental", but because of the close proximity
and small gaps between businesses, the multi-habitants occupancy and the age of the buildings (without knowing
the exact nature of the fire), all available resources were called and rather than cancel the call, if you happened
by you would have seen the 11 vehicles.

This photo will give you a better perspective of how close the buildings/businesses are to each
other. (Photos - Patrick Meikle).

(Rockland, July 16, 2012) UPDATE: Further to the news bulletin that we put out last week
(below), when the Canaan Connexion visited the site of the fire at 488 Lalonde
Street, we found that the property was sealed by police tape and a member of the OPP was guarding the scene. There
was also a member of the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office (OFM) inspecting the place.

It was evident that there had been
more than just a garage fire as first reported. From the smoke-singed windows including one or two that had been
blackened and broken, it appears that the contents of the home were also damaged.

The OPP officer at the scene would not comment on the fire, however we have learned from reliable
sources that the fire was of "undetermined origin" and when this happens, the OFM is automatically called
in. The investigation continues. We will report any news if/when available. Read more...(Photos - Patrick Meikle)Back to top

BULLETIN: At 5:38 p.m. Sunday, July 8 a fire call was received for heavy smoke coming from the garage at 488 Lalonde
Street in Rockland. Upon arrival heavy smoke was reported in the structure and a "Working Fire" was declared.
On first report it was unknown if anyone was inside the structure or if there were any injuries. No other information
is known at this time. We will report any news if/when available. (Photo taken from Google Maps).Back to top

Ford recalling more than 10,000 Escape crossovers

(Comment: Given that Rockland Ford appears to have the monopoly on car sales in the Rockland area,
we wanted to bring this story to your attention. we will be contacting the company later today to get their take.)

Ford Motor Co. is telling Canadian and U.S. owners of one version of the brand-new Ford Escape not to drive the
SUVs until dealers can fix fuel lines that can crack and spill gasoline, causing engine fires.

The company issued the unusual warning on Thursday and said it is recalling 2013 Escapes equipped with 1.6-litre
four-cylinder engines. Dealers will pick up the Escapes and drop off a loaner car that customers can use until
the repairs are finished. The company is hoping to ship parts and get all the SUVs repaired in the next two weeks.
Read more...

Former Rockland resident, Marc Messier (not the hockey player) is the
Public Information Officer for the Ottawa Fire Services. His is the voice you often hear when news services are
reporting Ottawa area fires. Here is his latest report on this week's major brush fire in southwest Ottawa, Moodie
Drive and Old Richmond Road:

UPDATE: Wednesday, July 18, 1:30 p.m.
After a thorough assessment of the Moodie Dr. fire scene this morning, the Ottawa Fire Services has declared the
incident as being under control. Crews will remain on scene over the next few days to monitor
conditions as the risk of spot fires and smouldering still exists, and will likely do so for some time unless we
get rain. We currently have 20 firefighters on scene who are combing through the forest looking for hot spots that
could rekindle. NCC staff will be monitoring the area during the nights. Should 72 hours pass without any hotpots
or rekindles, the incident will be declared terminated.

In the meantime many people are ignoring the burn ban that is in place as our area has been declared a Level II
Drought condition.

A full burn ban has been in effect since April 1, but Ottawa Fire Services are still responding to nightly calls
about campfires — six on Friday night. Read more..

Health Canada is warning parents
to keep laundry detergent packs away from small kids after receiving reports of children ingesting the colourful
miniature pods.

The brightly coloured packets with their squishy texture are attractive to children and if ingested can lead to
harmful health effects, including severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or breathing difficulty.

In May, the American Association of Poison Control Centers said it had received a surge of reports of children
mistaking them for candy.

In response the makers of Tide said they planned to have new child-proof containers out this summer. View a video
here.

The
City of Clarence-Rockland organized the Ottawa River Festival, held from July 6 to 8 at the du Moulin Park in Rockland
as well as in several communities in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. Did you attend? Read more...

Highway 174, near Quigley Hill Road
Car seen going into Ottawa River, no driver found

(Wednesday, July 4, 2012) (People driving along Highway 174
between Cumberland Village and Trim Road take note.) Police have recovered an abandoned,
stolen black 2008 Buick sedan (similar to one in picture) from the Ottawa River off Regional Road 174 at 1931 Regional
Road 174 which is near Quigley Hill Road. Rescue crews searched the Ottawa River but found no one after a car was
seen driving into the river on Wednesday evening.

Several people called 911 when they spotted the vehicle and an Ottawa Fire Services water rescue
crew pulled it from the river and searched for any occupants, but found none, a spokesperson said. The car was
about 15 metres (50 feet) from shore and firefighters used a winch to pull it closer in order to search for occupants.

The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service
at 613-236-1222 ext. 3566 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.Back to top

50 years ago this July...
In 1962 they called health care 'A Communist plot...'

Carl Dow, Editor and Publisher of True North Perspective (Our goal is to provide information
that will let the sun shine on the world’s continuing struggle for democracy, without hiding our head in the sand.) introduces us to an anniversary forgotten by many, the 50th Anniversary of Medicare in Saskatchewan.

Carl writes: "In July 1962 I was working the desk at the Canadian head office of United Press International
in Montreal. My job was to handle all the copy from bureaus throughout Canada, then put them on the national wire
to all UPI media clients in the country, with a feed to headquarters in the United States.

The hottest story that month came out of Saskatchewan where universal health care (what we today know as Medicare)
was being introduced by the CCF (NDP) government in the provincial legislature."